Makers That Have Recently Inspired Me

I had alot of guys push me to keep at it. And still do!!
Mark Williams, Charles Saure, Crex! and the GA fellas :)
Tom Krein was a big wind in my sales along with Trace Rinaldi and Kit Carson.
Really way too many to list.

In an indirect way, those guys telling me to keep at it and help others is what pushed me to keep doing what I was and make sure I paid back their efforts.
I still do that and find I am still expired in different ways by those in our community.

I really feel like this community is one of the few that really SHARES the success, mistakes and overall experience of knifemaking openly and has a willingness to teach.
I have a LONG way to go and still look forward to what I'll be making 7 more years from now :)

Thanks to those who have thought of me as inspiration because weather you realize it or not, YOU are the inspiration I draw upon many times a year :)
The same goes for customers. I thank you guys for keeping me striving to make that smile stay just a little longer on your faces :)
 
jonnymac44 said:
Rick, I find inspiration every day on these forums:thumbup:

I don't mean to simply kiss your ass in your own thread:D, but honestly, when you got your write up in the makers profile section of Blade magazine a few months ago, that was very inspiring for me because I thought "Wow! I know Rick, that could be me someday!!"

Also, Ryan W has been inspiring me in the last couple of months along with alb1k, Erik Albertson. These guys are new makers like myself and are both trying out stuff that is new to them and challenging. By doing so they inspire me to keep up with the pack and push my abilities. The last thing I want to be is stagnant, and with these two around, I can't let that happen!;)

Long time makers have been inspiring me lately as well. When a regular guy like myself can come onto BF and interact with guys like Ken Onion, Tom Krein, Brian Fellhoelter, Mike Snody, etc. it really pumps you up as a maker and makes you want to work harder to show your mettle. The interaction really is amazing around here.

Finally, fluidsteel.......I am shocked! Thank you for the mention buddy! There are so many great makers here that I've learned from I can't even begin to mention them all:thumbup:

Great thread idea, Rick......I'm feeling all sentimental now:D
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Damn, Jon,

I didn't know you cared. LOL. Actually, I did know. Not just about my efforts - you are one that roots for everybody who wants to make a good knife and is serious enough to give their best effort. As far as new makers, I'm glad I push you, but you are killing it. Keep it up, brother.

EA
 
I didn't read this thread until just now, as I knew there was no way I could answer the question. Then I thought, what the heck, I'll tip my hat to Patrice and Salem as a couple folks I've been recently inspired by. They're reasonably young in the craft, superbly developing craftsmen, way cool and all around nice guys! Then I get in here and see they've mentioned me. Certainly not because of any of my blade work. As a full time high school teacher and Dad, I get to do so little it still looks like crap so I don't show it here yet.

Ray Richard has always and continues to inspire me. I love that he can do what he does with his more traditional low tech high skill craftsmanship and make simply elegant, state of the art pieces that don't conform to the present day clinical fit and finish standards. Tai Goey too!
 
Patrice Lemée;9456970 said:
That said, I have to admit that recently, I've felt inspired (along with closer kinship), by a few makers: Matthew Gregory, Rick Marchand, Josh Dabney, Nathan (Silver Pilate), Erin Burke, Paul (PJ234) and Salem Straub (which I am pretty sure is my long lost twin ;)) I feel like if we lived closer, I would get along great with all of them in a best friend kind of way. Cheesy enough for ya Rick. ;)
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Kind of crazy to see my name in a list like this. Thanks Bro. You've been turning out some crazy cool stuff lately that I wouldn't have even attempted. So, to quote Mike Snody - and seriously, who doesn't want to quote Mike - "Much respect".

It's tough to make a list of inspirational makers... and difficult to compare makers on the forums to makers met in person. I definitely admire and resonate with Salem and his work. I think part of that resonance is that he lives in the same small town where I grew up. He's got a house on a hill in the middle of nowhere, and he turns out some first rate knives... combining clean/balanced design with smooth execution. I especially enjoyed the WIP associated with his forged integral fighter (the one with the green canvas micarta scales). :thumbup:

I have a special place in my knifemaking heart for Mr. Nick Wheeler... but who doesn't. He was the first knifemaker that I had the opportunity to visit with in person. In the days after receiving delivery of my KMG from Rob - when I realized that I hadn't a clue what to do with it - Nick stepped forward with an offer to come down and visit. The trip was both illuminating and traumatizing at the same time. Illuminating because I learned more in the few hours that I spent down there than from almost any other source. Traumatizing because I had met someone with such a "no-compromise" attitude toward knifemaking that I cannot imagine emulating. I hope to get back down to his shop one of these days... with a bit more experience under my belt, I might understand more of the detail in what is going on. Plus, he's dead-sexy.

I really enjoy Mr. Bruce Bump's willingness to share every project in such detail from start to finish. If you haven't had a chance to visit his personal forum over on Knifedogs, it's worth the price of admission. ;) Some day I'd like to make the trip over the mountains and spend a few hours as a fly on the wall of his shop.

Recently, I've been blown away by some of the folders being produced by a bunch of crazy Italian guys with names that I can't pronounce. I've also been enjoying the laminated work coming out of the CAS (Claudio & Ariel Sobral) shop. Very cool.

There are a ton of inspirational knives and makers out there right now... these are just a few from the top of my head.
 
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